ZIP code
50038
in Booneville, IowaPopulation 235
64.77/ 100
Ranked #2,096 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 6.6%)
Ranked #11 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 1.2%)
Ranked #6 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (top 7.1%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Binge drinking
22.2%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
77.5%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
89 µg/L
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
28%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
7.8%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
27.4%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
45.4%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Booneville, Iowa (ZIP 50038) lands in the top 6.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,096th) and the top 1.2% of Iowa (11th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled colon screening sits in the top 0.8% nationally, and homeownership is at the national maximum. Home broadband subscription settles at the national maximum, and modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Modeled mobility disability registers in the bottom 2.9% nationally, loneliness rests in the bottom 4.5% nationally, and food insecurity stands in the bottom 4.7% nationally. On the other side, modeled binge drinking lies in the top 1.7% nationally, lithium in drinking water lands in the top 3.4% nationally, and floodplain exposure sits in the top 4.9% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 50263, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 98%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 97%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.6%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50003
Iowashares a border
Score 60.86
Closest healthier
50263
Iowashares a border
Score 66.78
Similar health profile
10280
New York99% similar profile
Score 73.87
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 21.9% | 19.0–24.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.0% | 25.4–32.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.3% | 3.3–5.6 |
| Depression among adults | 19.1% | 16.1–22.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.8% | 7.4–10.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.6% | 29.9–37.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.6% | 27.0–38.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.2% | 1.8–2.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 4.3% | 3.4–5.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.7% | 3.4–6.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.3% | 71.9–78.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.9% | 72.1–79.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.7% | 83.9–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 77.5% | 73.2–81.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.6% | 70.5–76.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.1% | 72.5–84.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 22.2% | 18.8–25.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.6% | 7.3–14.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.6% | 13.6–22.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.0% | 23.2–33.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.2% | 9.6–15.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.0% | 11.6–16.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.7% | 8.0–11.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.3% | 8.2–12.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.7% | 16.9–25.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.8% | 3.8–6.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.1–9.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.2% | 1.8–2.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.2–3.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.5% | 17.0–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 5.0–10.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 3.5–8.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 4.9–9.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 3.7–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.4% | 23.4–32.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 3.4–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 35.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 35.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 20.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 40.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $82,188 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $825 ($614–$1,113) n=771 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.7 yr ± 1.63 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.0 yr (77.2–83.4) n=917 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 1.63 years of 83.7, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured